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Sports News of Thursday, 26 January 2023

Source: soccernet.ng

Odion Ighalo unfolds what happened two hours before the World Cup qualifier against Ghana

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo

The Super Eagles of Nigeria were trounced by their neighbours, Ghana at the MKO Abiola stadium in Abuja.

Nigerian international Odion Ighalo has detailed what transpired two hours before the Super Eagles’ encounter against Ghana.

The former Watford FC player revealed that after training for days with the same formation, he was informed he would not be starting against the Black Stars of Ghana.

He stated that the starting strikers for the replay of the World Cup qualifying game against Ghana were him and Victor Osimhen in the formation that the squad practiced.

The Super Eagles were not given the chance to represent the African continent in Qatar, as the tournament concluded in a dismal defeat.

Even though the 2022 World Cup is over and the Qatar event has wrapped up, the disappointment of missing out on the global competition has not yet been forgotten.

However, the Al Hilal forward said in a conversation with Oma Sports TV that there are contentious matters going on behind the scenes with the Super Eagles squad.

“There is so much going on in the Super Eagles. I am the guy who does not talk much, and I don’t create problems. I’m on my lane, and that’s why I’m in Saudi Arabia; I do my thing and live my life. I don’t want issues.” he said.

Ighalo is one of the Super Eagles’ best scorers, and the team needed his experience as a striker—most crucially, in the Super Eagles’ game against Ghana—but things did not work out as expected.

“They told me two hours before the game that I was not going to start. We were having lunch, and they had to call me out that we want to this and that. Even the coach did not call me.” he continued.

He added, “I said no problem. Senior man, no problem, he is the coach, my prayer is that whatever the formation is, we win the game. God just said we were not going to the World Cup.”